All Saints Parish Paper MARGARET STREET, LONDON W.1 JUNE 2008 £1.00 VICARS LETTER of All Saints, so were unimpressed by Our quotation from the Parish Paper of 908 this sacramental minimalism. They also looks forward to the Lambeth Conference feared the Church’s co-option by culture, of that year. The Lambeth Conference whether tribal or colonial, and defended of 2008 has of course been surrounded the efficacy of the sacraments and the truth with controversy. It is interesting to note of Scripture. that this is nothing new. The mention of “The Church’s one foundation”, a hymn Bishop Colenso in 908 is a reminder of still much loved and sung in our worship, a 9th century dispute which has echoes was written by Samuel John Stone in today. Colenso was the first Bishop of response to this crisis and sung at the Natal. His writings on the Old Testament Lambeth conference in 867. It is such a questioned the traditional view that Moses good hymn that it has long survived the was the author of the Pentateuch (the first original controversy which inspired it. five books of the Bible) and the literal accuracy of the creation and the flood got Many of these issues of that controversy him into hot water and he was deposed by continue to be live ones. Much of our Bishop Gray of Cape Town. Colenso also current dispute in the Anglican Communion advocated the adoption of African tribal revolves around the interpretation and customs and the baptism of polygamists. authority of Scripture. While we would He disliked polygamy but argued that “the be as unimpressed as Bishop Gray and price of conversion to Christianity should his clergy were by Colenso’s sacramental never be the dissolution of the family, theology, I suspect that not many associated and perhaps the destitution of wives and with All Saints now would want to defend children”. This was a position which a the Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch later Lambeth Conference would come to or deny the value of critical scholarship adopt. Colenso’s sympathetic attitude to in our use and understanding of the African culture did not win him friends scriptures. That does not mean that we among white colonists. He thought the have to accept every conclusion of every sacraments were little more than vague scholar; even Biblical scholars do not do signs, with Baptism making no radical that. In conversation with many associated change, and the Eucharist merely an aid with All Saints, I do find serious questions to personal devotion. Bishop Gray and being raised about parts of Scripture, not most clergy in South Africa had the same just the Old Testament, which sound not strong Tractarian views as the people unlike Colenso’s. These questions come not just from those of a ‘liberal’ or ‘critical’ the singing of “I’ve got you babe”. Then turn of mind, but often from people who there are crematorium funerals which end would consider themselves much more with the playing of Frank Sinatra’s “I did conservative than their Vicar. Such it my way”. Yet St Gregory did advise St questions often come from a profound Augustine to respect local customs in his moral sense. At Morning Prayer just now, mission to England. the Church of England’s Lectionary has These are issues which the Church has us reading through Joshua, a book which to wrestle with afresh in each age, not least sounds uncomfortably like divinely- in our city with its people of many cultures sanctioned ethnic cleansing. We try in and faiths. Answers which simply abandon our preaching and teaching to take both tradition, or those whose only response scripture and these questions seriously. to the challenge of the new is to abandon Issues around the relationship between reason and repeat old formulae, are usually the Gospel and culture are very much alive wrong or at least inadequate. today. How does the Church translate its Yours in Christ, Gospel and its worship into local cultures? Alan Moses What might be gained and what lost? Colenso, building on the work of F.D. PARISH NOTES Maurice, another theologian who got into hot water by questioning “traditional” Fr Neil Bunker views, in his case questioning the doctrine As many of you know, Fr Neil has been of eternal punishment, saw mission as unwell for some weeks and ordered by his meeting people half way, on the ground doctors to take things rather easier than of our common humanity. These are not has been his wont. He came to lunch with Fr Alan recently to give an update. He is simple and straightforward, yes and no feeling better but still undergoing tests to matters. How do Christians in Africa or indentify the source of the problem and Asia evangelise their culture in ways which the appropriate treatment — other than not do not simply replicate ours? Some Indian working quite so hard. He is very grateful Christians have eagerly embraced practices for good wishes and prayers of his friends from the dominant Hindu culture, while at All Saints and hopes to be back with us others are wary of the danger of absorption. before too long. These are not just foreign issues in Britain, for we have to ask ourselves how far our A hope we all share. church life and worship reflect the Gospel An 80th Birthday and how much our consumerist culture. Our congratulations to Fr John Gaskell on We might think of the increasing tendency his 80th birthday. He thanks all those who to incorporate into weddings and funerals sent him greetings. elements which seem barely Christian. I was recently shown an order of service A Birthday and a Retirement for a marriage blessing carried out in a Our PCC Secretary, author of the Annual Parish Church of charismatic evangelical Report of which part appears in this issue, tradition which appeared to contain no reached a significant age on Tuesday May reading from Scripture and ended with 3th and retired from her work at the 2 Hammersmith Hospital that day. Duty meant anniversary of their wedding on May 7th. that she had to spend some of her time that A framed copy of the entry in the Marriage evening at a meeting of the PCC Standing Register of All Saints was sent to them as Committee but this task was lightened by a a gift from us, accompanied by a card with small party in her honour afterwards. The greetings from their many friends here. prospect of this seemed to concentrate the Mary Bishop minds of the members. A Memorial Mass was held for Mary on The All Saints Sisters of the Poor Tuesday May 6th. This was a happy occasion The Vicar tries to maintain our links with in which fond memories and amusing stories the Sisters, not least by being a member of about Mary were shared as we gave thanks their Priest Friends. He attended the most for her faith. The Vicar’s sermon at the Mass recent gathering on May 4th at which Fr appears in this issue. Mark Birch, Chaplain of Helen and Douglas Houses which are situated in the convent Two members of our congregation have grounds, reflected on his very different lost their mothers in the past month; first experiences of chaplaincy there and at Janet Drake and then Larry Markey. We Exeter College. The Sisters send their best hold them and their mothers, Jane Mather wishes to us at All Saints. Sr Jean Margaret and Ellen Markey in our prayers and and Sr Anne Frances hope to visit us before sympathy. too long. Fr Gerald led a Quiet Day at St Michael’s The occasion also allowed Fr Alan to Convent, Ham Common. visit John Welch in St John’s Home for Fr Alan gave a talk to the Walsingham Cell the Elderly, another of the works carried on the cult of Our Lady of Guadalupe in on under the Sisters’ umbrella. John enjoys Mexico. keeping in touch with All Saints by reading the Parish Paper and through friends who Congratulations and thanks to Andrew visit or write. Moore who ran in the London Marathon to raise funds for Shelter and for the All Saints Geoffrey Hughes, a member of the Friends Restoration Appeal. Andrew received a of All Saints who lives in Manchester, first round of applause at High Mass on the worshipped at All Saints at Pentecost forty following Sunday. The sum raised will be years ago. He was back at High Mass on the published next month. feast this year. He preached at Christ’s College, Also in the congregation that morning Cambridge, at Evensong on the feast was Fr John Thorold OGS, who has been of Pentecost. The College Chaplain, Fr coming here even longer. He was brought Christopher Woods, is a member of the by his father to hear Fr Mackay preach and Friends of All Saints. has been coming here ever since; having known eight of the thirteen vicars. Paul Brough and a quintet of singers from the All Saints Choir provided the music A Golden Wedding in honour of Thomas Bray, the founder of Our congratulations to Fr Gerald and SPCK and USPG which was organised by Valerie Reddington who celebrated the 50th the two societies at St Botolph’s, Aldgate, 3 where Bray was Rector. The Bishop of welcome back to All Saints that morning London was the celebrant and preacher. Fr Allen Shin, Chaplain of Keble College, Fr Alan, as chairman of USPG, acted as Oxford. deacon.